STAND. COM. REP. NO. 168
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2015
RE: H.B. No. 1005
H.D. 1
Honorable Joseph M. Souki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2015
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1005 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to support the Veterans Treatment Court.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.
Your Committee finds that the Veterans Treatment Court is a successful program that has helped many veterans in Hawaii who have faced difficulties reintegrating with society following military service. Specifically, the program pairs veterans with a mentor who can help the veteran recover from difficult issues such as substance abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veterans Treatment Court program was originally funded by a three-year federal grant, which will expire on September 30, 2015. Your Committee finds that adequate permanent funding is crucial to the continuation of the program and will enable it to assist more veterans and reduce recidivism and crime.
Your Committee further finds that the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu serves a critical role in the operation of the Veterans Treatment Court. Accordingly, your Committee believes that an appropriation of $65,000 would help the Department continue to contribute to the success of the Veterans Treatment Court.
Your Committee has amended this measure to include an appropriation of an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2015-2016 as a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to hire necessary staff to support the Veterans Treatment Court.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1005, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1005, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,
|
|
|
____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
|
|
|
|